ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah have condemned the ongoing Indian atrocities and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

The PTI chairman urged the international community to take note of the Indian state terrorism against the Kashmiri people, terming it a violation not just of the United Nations Charter and its underlying principle of the right to self-determination but of all international human rights and humanitarian laws.

In a statement issued on Sunday, he re­mi­­nded the international community that the India-held Kashmir valley remained the most militarised region of the world.

He said it was a sad reflection of the state of global politics that India’s violence and terrorism against unarmed Kashmiri people was being allowed to go unchecked despite multiple international calls for combating all forms of terrorism.

“The hypocrisy and double standards of the international community have never been so starkly displayed as on the Kashmir issue.”

India’s media blackout, suspension of internet services and ban on a number of social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, were all reflective of the repressive and authoritarian nature of the Indian government and its troops, he said.

Mr Khan said the use of military force could not be used to deny the Kashmiris their basic right to self-determination guaranteed by UN Security Council resolutions.

“We will always stand by the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination and justice. The Kashmiri people must have the right to decide their future,” he said. He criticised the government for its failure to forcefully project at international forums the Kashmir cause and Indian abuse of human rights and humanitarian laws.

“The Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir has also failed and must be held accountable,” he said.

Mr Khan alleged that personal relationships of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Indian businessmen had prevented him from speaking forcefully for the Kashmiri people at the multiple international forums he had addressed during his expansive foreign travels.

Opposition leader Khurshid Shah, in his statement, condemned the atrocities by the Indian troops and said Pakistan would continue supporting the people of Kashmir.

“Use of force, by Indian forces, will further complicate the issue,” he said.

In Muzfarrabad, a group of Kashmiri activists staged a demonstration on Sunday to condemn killing of people in India-held Kashmir over the last 24 hours, including that of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat.

“India, you can kill our sons, but not our spirit,” read a banner being carried by the demonstrators as they paraded through the main thoroughfare of Muzaffarabad, from Burhan Wani Chowk to Garhipan Chowk.

The demonstration was organised by Pasban-i-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir, an organisation launched by refugees from India-held Kashmir.

Tariq Naqash in Muzaffarabad contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2017